NHL Cancels Season

Vanity

[Loyalist]

Gary Bettman makes it official: 2004-05 NHL season has been cancelled.

Damn you.

[Alberta's Child]

Yep, that's right!

[BurbankKarl]

Wonder how many teams will fold. Is the Cup still on display at the Tampa Bay Hooters?

[Ciexyz]

This Pittsburgh Penguins fan is bummed.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

There are definitely more first-tier goalies in the league than there were when I started watching in the '70's -- a GAA of 3.00 was respectable ... but I don't consider that a problem. A 2-1 game where both teams get a lot of quality chances and the goalies play great is about as exciting as a 5-4 game.

Unfortunately, we get games played between the blue lines with very few good chances (odd man rushes or shots from inside the circles), and with the goalies as good as they are now, the result is the top offenses barely averaging 3 goals a game.

[e_castillo]

hard to believe

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Wonder how many teams will fold.

Six or seven would be great. That would push 150-175 guys down to the AHL where they belong.

[glaseatr]

As long as they don't mess with bowling season

As long as there's round balls and beer I don't see anyone messing with bowling season. even my wife

[Danae]

I'm cryin in me beer. Where's the Hockey eh?

I sure as heck hope they settle this before NEXT season.

[Alberta's Child]

That's a good perspective. The sharp goaltending has reduced scoring levels that would already be very low just because of the lack of talent and the defensive styles of play that everyone seem to be using.

If it makes anyone feel any better in this regard, my team just won back-to-back games by 7-6 and 6-5 scores. LOL.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

If it makes anyone feel any better in this regard, my team just won back-to-back games by 7-6 and 6-5 scores. LOL.

And those are 30 (?) minute games with running clock (I hate that!) ...

[Alberta's Child]

Actually 45 minutes, but you get the idea. LOL.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Tragically, even with shorter games it takes about a week to recover ... 15 years ago I could play back-to-back-to-back ... Sad, really!

[kanawa]

I'm not a big hockey fan but the playoffs were one time in the year to get together with some old chums and watch Toronto lose again.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

As cheesy as the NHL has become, the Cup playoffs are still the most exciting in sport ... especially when your team is alive ... nerve wracking, exhilirating and, ultimately, heart breaking!

[Alberta's Child]

I'm running into that problem myself. I found that playing three times a week (1 league game, and 1-2 informal practices or outdoor games on inline skates) and staying as active as possible really helps.

I ran into a guy in a Saskatoon bar and got into a conversation about the adult leagues up there. He said he played on a team in a 50+ league (which shocked the hell out of me because he looked like he wasn't a day over 40) that played a 55-game schedule every winter. Holy smokes.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

played a 55-game schedule every winter.

Yikes! was his last name "Howe"?

[Alberta's Child]

I don't think so. I never got his last name, but I remember he worked in the Weyerhauser paper mill up there with Curtis Leschyshyn's dad.

[spectr17]

Drowning my sorrow here in SoCal

[Alberta's Child]

I know you ain't a hockey fan, but I figured I'd ping you so you can share in our misery. LOL.

[Victoria Delsoul]

I think those guys are overpaid for all that punching and fighting. I like watching a nice game of hockey without seeing helmets and hockey sticks flying everywhere. lol